Bullring chemical spill not treated as suspicious
A CHEMICAL leak which forced the closure of Birmingham’s Bullring shopping centre and led to more than 30 people being treated by paramedics was probably an accident, police said today.
At first it was feared that Thursday’s leak was malicious with an individual or a group deliberately filling the mall with the dangerous chemical.
But now police believe it was due to fumes from a cleaning product and is not being treated as suspicious.
Ambulance crews were called to the centre at 4.30am yesterday when security guards were overwhelmed by fumes coming through the ventilation system.
They were taken to Heartlands Hospital and treated for minor sickness. Bosses decided to open the Bullring at 8.50am, but had to close it again 40 minutes later after staff working in the basement reported feeling ill.
The centre remained closed for the entire day while firefighters, police and other agencies investigated.
In total around 250 workers were seen in a specially set up area by West Midlands Ambulance Service with 33 needing treatment.
Share
